"Women will Die"

[mrrnice2 157005]

There was the Supreme Court decision that repealed the laws. There was lots of talk. There was discussion. There was supposed consultation. Now there is a proposed law. Talk is cheap and its easy to be upset, to criticize, to vent and to rant, and many of us have done this in the last 24 hours either in print or with each other or just silently to ourselves.

 

The real question at the moment is, "Where from here?" If we choose to be like the proverbial ostrich that hides its head in the sand then perhaps what we see is what we get?

 

Last evening I heard an interview with Emily Symons who was representing P.O.W.E.R., an organization of/for sex workers in Ottawa. She did a fantastic job of expressing many common thoughts that most of us here probably support. I refer to P.O.W.E.R because one side of the equation may well be the need for a sex workers united front and I am wondering if P.O.W.E.R. is that organization?

 

I have been negligent in not becoming familiar with these organizations because they may become one of the ways that this legislation can be fought. In order to fight this legislation prior to its being passed and then ultimately having to go through years of court battles all the way to the Supreme Court is there a way to do so right now?

 

Emotion is good but what will be required is patience and a willingness to follow process and procedure, as slow and as painful as that may be.

 

I titled this thread, " Women Will Die," because those are the words that Ms. Symons used last evening as did one other researcher who was interviewed. If there were such a thing as a PR campaign, those words as a focal point may carry a lot more weight than words saying, "Legalize prostitution."

 

Why this thread? It is because I want to help and I don't know how. There are many men who really cannot be visible for personal reasons. Would I want to be publicly visible, probably not, but would I if I felt it would make a REAL difference, probably. However you can help, man or woman, client or sex worker, this is the time to step up. What is the best way?

 

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Guest C*****tte]

I donate a portion of my income each and every month to organizations that offer resources for sex workers.

 

Obviously I am not asking you to forgo paying us for our services, but in addition to doing that please consider donating in a meaningful way to groups such as Maggies, Stella and POWER and the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work law Reform.

 

Attend incognito at the demonstrations...

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/305258766301915/

 

Speak up in your everyday lives. Around the water cooler if the subject comes up, you don't have to say you see escorts. You can say that criminalization leads to more violence and you do not support that.

 

Do not vote for any government official that supports YOUR criminalization.

[Kimberly-Shea 28280]

Do not vote for any government official that supports YOUR criminalization.

 

^^This is the clearest thing I hope clients hear today. I'm always amazed by how many of our clientele are politically aligned with parties that abhor them? Honestly, it's nauseating.

 

Kim

[cinelli 22184]

I'm always amazed by how many of our clientele are politically aligned with parties that abhor them?

 

Canadians as a whole tend to be politically clueless.

 

I once had a talk with a unionised worker who was a staunch Tory supporter. His union was screwed over by the Tories but he was sticking with them because "that's what my family has always done". LOL

 

Another time I talked to a 1%er biker. He too was going to vote Tory. I told him it wasn't in his interests given the Tory tough-on-crime platform. He just said he liked the way our local MP talks on TV.

 

Critical thinking: a lost art.

 

Additional Comments:

Re Fortunate One's article. It left out the saving provision:

 

286.5 No person shall be prosecuted for

 

a) an offence under section 286.2 if the benefit derived is from the

provision of their own sexual services or

 

b) an offence made under section 286.4 in relation to the advertisement of their own sexual services.

 

Sooo...I would say SPs are allowed to do their own advertising and keep their own earnings.

[drlove 37202]

P.O.W.E.R... may become one of the ways that this legislation can be fought. In order to fight this legislation prior to its being passed and then ultimately having to go through years of court battles all the way to the Supreme Court is there a way to do so right now? What is the best way?

 

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

What about having someone with standing file an injunction? Also, is there a way to have it referred to the SCC? Granted, I don't know what would be involved,or if it's even viable, but I wanted to put forth some ideas just the same.

[canuckhooker 19202]

I have said this elsewhere, but you don't have to be a client or identify yourself as one to have strong opinions on this. It is a civil liberties issue. Consenting adults etc. It is the start of a slippery slope.

 

We have laws against exploiting minors, trafficking, slavery, exploiting anyone. Why do we need a law so specific? Because politicians are lazy. And you can blame the Tories all you want, there are supporters of this in all of the parties. They are afraid to be stigmatized so they will say what they think people will want to hear.

 

It is not about sex, it is about basic human liberties and dignity.

[Andee 220524]

What if my ad read "Hey gents available for adult companionship for a fee. Bonus free sex!!" Seriously what could they do?

 

In the meantime I am hoping the Senate will give this bill the very utmost consideration to not see it pass. Because as the OP suggests women (sex workers) will die.

[drlove 37202]

It is not about sex, it is about basic human liberties and dignity.

 

That's exactly it!

 

Additional Comments:

What if my ad read "Hey gents available for adult companionship for a fee. Bonus free sex!!" Seriously what could they do?

 

That's a good question... I wish I knew more about how the law works in this regard. Would they need 100% proof that sex took place for monetary exchange, or would 'reasonable suspicion' by a judge in a court of law be enough to convict a patron? I'm not sure to be honest with you. Any legal experts on the board?